Imaging Modality Couch Marking for Accurate Isocenter Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
The APO method for patient positioning in medical imaging systems often deviates from the real patient's position, leading to inaccuracies of several centimeters, which are only corrected after multiple image captures, resulting in inefficient and inaccurate positioning.
Innovation Solution
A control facility projects a provisional marking on the patient couch, allowing operators to provide correction commands, which are used to finalize the positioning based on a patient model and data, ensuring accurate alignment with the imaging system's isocenter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the APO method is used for patient positioning, then the positioning process can be automated based on patient data and modeling, but the positioning accuracy deviates by several centimeters from the real patient position
Solution Approach 1:
The system projects a marking onto the patient couch based on the modeled position, allowing the operator to visually compare and correct the positioning. The operator provides correction commands based on visual feedback, and the system updates the position accordingly. This feedback loop resolves the contradiction by enabling automated positioning while allowing manual correction to achieve high precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The projected marking acts as an intermediary element between the automated positioning system and the operator. It translates the modeled position into a visual reference that the operator can use to make corrections, bridging the gap between automation and precision requirements.
2Measurement precision
If multiple image captures are performed to correct positioning, then positioning accuracy can be improved, but the time required for positioning increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary positioning based on patient data and modeling, then projects a marking to guide the operator through a quick visual correction. This preliminary action reduces the need for multiple iterative image captures, as the marking provides immediate visual guidance for precise positioning in a single adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The visual feedback from the projected marking allows the operator to immediately see the positioning discrepancy and make a single corrective action, eliminating the need for multiple image captures and iterations, thus reducing positioning time while maintaining accuracy.
3Ease of operation
If the patient couch is moved based on modeled position, then positioning can be performed without manual intervention, but alignment errors of several centimeters occur
Solution Approach 1:
The projected marking provides visual feedback that enables the operator to easily identify and correct alignment errors. The operator can visually compare the marking with the actual patient position and make a single intuitive adjustment, maintaining ease of operation while achieving high alignment precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The marking serves as an intermediary visual guide that translates the automated positioning into a correctable reference, allowing operators to easily achieve precise alignment without complex manual procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical imaging system includes a longitudinally movable patient couch that positions different patient regions into its isocenter. A control facility receives patient data—including arrangement on the couch—and an operator's selection of the region to be examined. Based on these inputs, it provisionally identifies the couch section where the selected region is located and projects a marking there. The operator can issue correction commands to shift the marking until giving a close command. At that point, the system accepts the current location of the marking as final and moves the couch so that this section is in the isocenter.